State AA softball bracket set; Great Falls High team to beat

Mike Coleman walks to the dugout after an inning. (TOM WYLIE/MTN Sports)

HELENA — The final three Class AA softball programs punched their tickets to next weekend’s State AA tournament at Batch Fields in Helena, finalizing the eight-team bracket. Four teams from each league, the Eastern AA and Western AA, will participate in the tournament.

Thursday’s winners unofficially complete the brackets for the upcoming state tournament, which begins on Thursday. Great Falls High enters as the heavy favorite after an undefeated regular season, but Helena Capital could make a push for the title. The Bison face Helena High at 2 p.m. on Thursday while the Bruins meet CMR at 4 p.m.

The other first round games will include Missoula Sentinel against Butte, while Kalispell Glacier opens with Billings Senior at 4 p.m.

The State AA tournament is a two-loss elimination bracket, with the state championship scheduled for Saturday at noon, with an if-necessary Game 2 slated to begin shortly after around 2 p.m.

After spending two years in Tucson, Ariz., Richie Melby returned to Montana as the sports director at KTVH in 2016. After 18 months on the anchor desk, Richie has transitioned into a digital-first role with www.montanasports.com. He is a Hi-line native and has a strong relationship with Montanans and enjoys telling the stories of local athletes, coaches and teams.